Delta 46-700

[Ronald Blue]

I have a Delta 46-700 for sale near me. With the horror stories on Delta parts availability should I even give it consideration? I feel the price is right but sometimes it can't be cheap enough. Should I move on. They want $275 for it. Thanks in advance.

[david privett]

is that just the lathe or is there enough accessories to justify buying it? some have gotten enough tools and such that the lathes itself are about free.

[Ronald Blue]

There are high speed lathe tools and a live center and drive spur. That's all. Not much to sweeten the deal.

[Bob Hamilton]

I started out turning with a 46-700 back around 1990-ish. The lathe had quite a few features I liked but the mechanical variable speed (Reeve's drive) was not very good quality. I turned on that lathe for about 12 years and had to re-build the motor end of the drive system about every 3 or 4 years while I had it. The parts required to re-build it were only about $40 or $50 the first time I did it but it was closer to $85 or $90 the third (and last) time I rebuilt it. The wait for parts was only a week or two the first time and had grown to 3 or 4 months the last time, which was 15 years or so ago. The lathe has been out of production since the mid-1990's or so, so I would be a bit leery about parts availability now.

I would steer clear of it, myself.

Take care
Bob

P.S.: I bought mine brand new for ~$500, so even $275 sounds a bit steep to me for a 20 year old lathe.

[Ronald Blue]

Thanks Bob, that was what I wanted to know.